Nick Gillard Hyperspace Chat - Dec. 20/04 (ROTS info inside)

- no Jedi Gungans.



Thank God

 

From the recent Homing Beacon:

ON THE LEVEL

How does one quantify fighting prowess, and does such a quantity have any practical value? When Stunt Coordinator and Sword Master Nick Gillard sets down to script a lightsaber duel, he needs to have some guage as to how competent the combatants are. On equal-footing, such ranking could easily determine the victor. Star Wars duels, however, rarely occur on equal footing or level ground.

"The fighting has evolved in these last three movies considerably," says Gillard. "George Lucas works on a system of levels. So, on The Phantom Menace Obi-Wan would have been like a level six or seven. Now that we're on Episode III he's actually a level eight. When you move up the levels, it affects the style of fighting."

The level is not necessarily an indication of the performer's talent, but it takes a truly gifted and physically skilled actor to play a powerful Jedi combatant. "Hayden Christensen is one of the best there is," says Gillard. "I've seen hundreds of sword fighters, people who do it for a living, and he leaves them all in his wake. His style has changed a bit since Episode II, when he was only a level seven. On this he's a level nine."

Also a factor in Gillard's development is backstory of the Jedi warriors. The training lineage does show up in the crafting of duels and action. "There's a line of training through Darth Tyranus and Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and Anakin. You can follow that line, and there's an aggressive fault in that line. Mace isn't of that line, and that allows you to give him unique talents."

For the curious, Gillard does not reveal any Jedi who has achieved level ten. The highest is nine, occupied by a small number of capable sword masters, including Yoda and Darth Sidious. At so high a ranking, it comes down to individual fighting styles as well as the circumstances of the surroundings that make a difference.

- Interesting that we'll maybe see some different techniques from Sidious and Mace?

 

Of course we'll see different techniques... otherwise things could get somewhat dull. You have to keep it fresh and exciting.

 

I wonder if perhaps Mace will go out like Obi-Wan...he may realize he is defeated and outnumbered, thrown down his saber and take his death with peace and calm after a valiant battle. I would like that.

 

Who here thinks one gristled old politician *might* be worthy of level 10? Oops! Just saw Gillard's comments INCLUDE Sidious!